The Vermont Mountain Bike Festival is a three-day festival based at Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush offering food trucks, music, demos, camping, discounted lodging, and guided rides throughout the Mad River Valley for riders of all ages and abilities. The festival kicks off Friday afternoon with a live dj, cornhole and bike skill games, food provided by American Flatbread and The Sweet Spot, and a special one-time cask of Long Trail’s Double Galaxy Limbo. Saturday evening’s highlights include live music by The Big Basin Band and a BBQ. The festival runs through Sunday afternoon.

Shuttles will be available Friday afternoon and all day Saturday to transport bikers to a variety of rides in the Mad River Valley. The Valley will be showcasing mountain bike trails at Blueberry Lake, Camel’s Hump State Forest, Phen Basin, Old Center Fayston, Chase Brook Town Forest, Marble Hill Farm, and Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak. Clinics specifically aimed at women, as well as kid’s clinics, will be available. Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports will be attending the festival and providing adaptive bikes to participants.

Individual and family registrations are available for the entire weekend ($100 and $225 respectively), or for a single day. A full weekend registration includes free downhill passes to Sugarbush’s lift-served mountain bike terrain on Sunday, onsite camping, bike demos and clinics, 50% off a family Adventure Zone Day pass, a t-shirt, and admission to the Saturday night BBQ.

Last year’s festival, held at Ascutney Mountain Resort, brought over 400 participants to the area. This year’s attendance is expected to be even higher based on the number of already-registered participants. For more information on the festival or to register, visit www.sugarbush.com or vmba.org.